Theft detector for automobiles



y!) II. I. IVIICHALSKI.

ELDETI-:CIOR FOR AUTOMOBILES'.

Z 11 veia im;

`2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Patented May 2, 1922.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.6, 1921.

IIIIIIIIIIII :x .6 GHIMIPIII l Sil/sta; mA

LV1. MICHALSK THEET DETECTOR EOE AUTOMOBILES. A Y APPUCATIUN HLD AUG|8T |92 1,414,521

Cil

stares JOSEPH. J. MICHALSKT, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

THEFT D'TECTOR FOR- A'UTOYOBLES.

hdl/19521. v Specification of Letters Patent.

Applcatonrfiled August 8,

To all whom l? mmf concern: v v

Be it lrnown that-T, Josririi J.' Miei-raisin, a citizeny of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New Yorlr, have invented new and useful lmprovements in Theft Detectors for Automobiles, of vwhich the following is a speciication. v

This invention relates to a detector or identifying device for protecting autoino-r. biles and similar vehicles from theft.

The principalv object of the invention is to provide an improved device of this character which is conspicuousand visiblefrom either side of theveliicle so that policemen .and others may readily detect whether or not thev vehicle is Ybeing driven by the owner or some unauthorized person'. Y y

Other objects are to provide a visible. detector which is simple and compact in con-y struction, wli'ich'can be Vmanufactured atia moderate cost, and which can Vbe 'readily installed Aand conveniently manipulated.

Tn the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 isfa fragmentary side elevation of an: automobile showing 1 the Vimprovement applied thereto with the presence-indicating member Y in position. VFigure 2 is an enlarged transverse vertical section on line 2-2, Fig. l. Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2,

, but showing theV presence-indicating meniber removed and the absence-indicating member in position. Figure i is a sectional side elevation of the improvement v.with the presence-inclicating member in position. Figure 5 is a horizontal section on line 5-5, Fig. 4. Figure 6 fragmentary sectional end View' of the improvement. VFigure? is an enlarged fragmentary section 'on' line i1-7, Fig. 3. l Figure B is a perspective view of one of the Y Figure 9 is a view similar to Fig. Il, but showing the absence-indicating member in position.v FigureflO is a sectional elevation of a modified form of theimprovenient, showing the presence-indicating member in position. Figure 1l is Va view similar to Fig. 10, but showing the absenceindicating member in position. Figure 12 isf a transverse vertical' section on line 121-42, Fig. 10. Figures .13 and 14: are horizontal sections on the correspondingly numbered lines in Figs. 10 and 11, respectively. Figure l5 is a perspective view of the presence-indicating member employed in the modified form oftheJ improvement. Y

Similar characters of reference indicate Patented ltiay 2, 1922.

i921. serial imesoise.

corresponding parts throughout the several views. Y

By way of'exainple, the improvement is shown 'as applied to the upper front side of the body 2O of an automobile, same may be located at any other accessible place where it is conspicuous and clearly visible from'either side of the vehicle.

Tn theV preferred embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. Al-S), inclusive, the

Vsame comprises a rectangular box-like casing 2l4 preferablyopen at its opposite sides and although the provided at its lower end with attaching` flanges 22 for securing it to the automobile body. The upper portion of one side of the casing is preferably provided with a swinging door lframe 23 Lhinged at 24 for permii-` ting `access to `the interior of the casing when desired. This door may be provided with a suitableV lock 25. Although this casing isl may be ofV preferably of rectangular form, it any other desired shape. v The Vopposite sides of the casing` are provided with means for present-ing a 'characteristic foreground or setting,'and for this purpose the open sides'offsaid casing are provided with panes or panels 26, 27, preferably of glass or other transparent material. The

door frame 23 may` also'be providedV with aV similar pane or panel-28. AAs shown iiiFigs. 2, Band 4, the opposing upper iand lower edges ofthe panels 26, 28A and the corresponding edges ofthe casing and in a, horizontal ljoint 29. The upper and lower portions of the panel 27 are Jpreferably provided on one side thereof with a colored surface 3), such, for example, as red, which ris bright and conspicuous, while the central or intermediate portion il of said panel is The corresponding lower portion of the panel 26 Vis provided with a.

while its upper transparent.

similarly colored surface 32, portion 33 corresponding to and in line with the central portion 3l of the panel 27, is left transparent. The panel 28 of the door frame is provided with a like-colored surface Se corresponding to and in 4line with the Vupper colored surface 30 of said panel 27. Thus, on either side vof the casing 2O Vthere is a central transparent bar or portion and above and below the latter' there are portions of a conspicuous color forming a characteristic set-` ting or ground for ythe indicating members of the device. Y

door frame meet 711-0 Arranged within the casing 2O and movable into and` out of register with -tl e trans- Y parent portions of the panels'26, 27, are twov detecting or indicating members 35, 36, the former of which is adapted to indicate the owners .absence from his car and the latter the presence in the car of the owner or some authorized person. indicating members are of the proper dimensions to occupy the area covered by the` transparent portions 3l, 33 of the panels 26, 27. The indicating 'member' 35 is of the same color or characteristic naturevas the colored portions of the panels 26, 27 and 28, while n the indicating member'36 is of a contrasting color or of a different characteristic nature than said member 35 and said panels and is preferably provided with a highly finished reflecting surface, such asa mirror. Furthers more Y these indicatin members are )referablyarranged to move in unison, so that when one is set in its operative or indicating position the other is automatically set in its inoperative or non-.indicating position, and the preferred means for accomplishing this result are `constructed as follows:

`ends to the base 'of said Arranged" in the lower ing 20 is row of upright posts or rods 37 which are securely. fastened at their lower casing while their upper ends terminate a suitable distance below thetop thereof, as shown in. Figs. 2, 3 and 4. Guided for lvertical these posts are lthe indicating members '35, 36 which may be identical 1n construction,

end of the indicating member 35.

each vbeing provided with `vertical openings 38 for engaging said posts. `Coil ksprings 39 surround the lower ends'of the llatter and constantly tend to elevate the indicating the springs bearing against the base of the casing and the upper ends thereof bearing against the lower A spring catch 4t() carried by one of the guide posts,

1areferabl the central one and havinO a i y 7 as downwardly facing stop shoulder' al is adapted to limit the upward movement of the indicating members to properly position them in their operative positions. rllhe indicating member 36, which indicates the owners presence in his car, is preferably detachable from the guide posts and completely removable from the casing 2O through the door 23, 'while the absence-indicating member 35 is preferably*permanently arranged within the Ac'asin g. of said member 36, the spring catch 4l() is pressed inwardly within the cross-sectional areaof its supporting post. Upon the removal of the presence-iindicating member Y36 from the posts 37, the absence member 35 is automatically elevated by the springs 39 to the position shown in Fig. 3, while upon 'applying said first-named mem- -ber to the posts, the last-named member is forced downwardly and hidden from view between the lower colored portions of the `3l, 33 of said panels and the same For this purpose, these persons, andV to permit ,tecting members.

portion ofthe casT` y' fitted on kmovement on f this To permit of the removal it will be understood that the same 'panels 26, 27, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3,. In this position, the indicating member 36 is clearly visible from opposite sides of the automobile through the transparent portions stands out conspicuously aainst the contrasting red' setting or grount of the casing. l

In order to preventready duplication of the indicating members by unauthorized of varying'them for different automobiles, so that each of such members fits only the corresponding guide posts 37, the latter and the corresponding openings 38 in said members are preferably of different cross sectional areas, as shown in Figs. 5, 7 and 8, thus rendering it impossible for such persons to` practice deception by the use of similar indicating or de-V To further guard againstY such practice, the several guide posts are provided near their upperends with horizontal connecting webs or pins 4,2 and the indicating'members ,are provided with corre-V sponding upright slotsl3 which engage said pins, as shown in Figs..3, 7 and 3. Y

vIn the use of this device, when the owner or other 1 authorized `person occupies or drives the automobile, he sees to it that the removable indicating-member 36 is properly the guide rposts and that the door 23 is locked. In this position of the device, which is shown in Figs. l, 2 and 4,'S'aid indicating memberstands out conspicuouslyv againstthe contrasting-red ground formed by the colored portions of the. respectiveV panels 26, 27 and 28, serving'as an indication to patrolmen Aand others that jt-he vee hicle is occupied by anlafuthori'zed person.` When the Vcar is left standing the owner unlocks the door of the casing and removes the indicating memberV 36 therefrom, whereupon Athe indicating mem'- ber 35 automatically springs upward to the position shown in Figs. 3 and 9, afterwhich he again closesthe doorandlocks it, said member' 35 being visible through the transor parked,

forming, together with the colored portions 30, 32 and 3tlof the latter,y a uniformly and completely colored surface or ground Vindieating that the l 'position of the device, should the'cafr be traveling along the streets, it will arouse the suspicion that the vehicle is being stolen 'and patrolmen and othersY cantherefore promptly take the necessary-steps to arrest the thief.- y

Although the indicating member 36 kis preferably adapted to assume a position sub` stantially in the center of a colored ground, may be arranged to assume Vany other .contrasting position, for example, either above or below said ground. In the embodiment of the inventionshown owner has left the car. In

in Figs. lO-l, inclusive, the vindicating member 35a is in the form of`V boxl Vand guided for vertical movement on upright posts 37 a which pass through corresponding openings 38l in the base of said box andare provided at their upperends with heads i5 which serve to limit the upward movement of said indicating member. Coill springs 39a serve to project the latter to its detecting position. rlhe, removable indicating member 36, in this instance, is of corrugated or irregular its' ends in guidevvays 4:6 secured to the end Walls ofthe casing 20a. per ends providedwith a slot i8 shaped to correspoiid to said indicating member 36a, as

shovvn in Fig. 14. A' horizontally swinging.

linger piece t9 ulcrumed on one side of thisv plate serves to hold said indicating member in its operative position, shovvnin Figs. 10 and i Y Wardly from the opposite lower .ends oi: the removable indicating member facilitate its insertion in the guidevvays.

Itvvvill'be understood from the foregoing that various otheixmodiiications mayk bey made Withoutk departing from the spirit ,of this invention claims.

s In the claims the indicators or detectors 35, 31521 are designated vas the absence-indiv cators and theV removable detectors 36,v 3G

as the presence-indicators?. A

l claim, as myfinvention: Y

1. A theft detector for automobiles and the like, comprising acharacteristic ground, and a plurality of contrasting indicating members disposed one above the other and movable in aV plane substantially parallel with said ground intoand out of operative position relatively thereto, said means indicating the owners absence from the automobile in one position thereof and his presence in another position.

2. A theft detector for automobiles and the like, comprising a characteristic ground,

and contrasting indicating members facing in the same direction and movable in unison, the one into and the other out of operative position relatively to said ground.` for automobiles and` 3. A theft detector the like, comprisinga characteristic ground, and indicating means movable into and out of operative position relatively to said ground, a portion ofjsaid indicating lmeans being of the same characteristic nature as said ground and indicating the owners absence from the automobile, and the other y means being of aV portion of said indicating different characteristic nature Jfrom said ground, and indicating the oivners presencev Vin the automobile.

4i. A tlieftdetector for automobiles ,and`

the like, comprising a characteristic ground,

forni and is guided at Connecting the upof these guidevvays is a plate 47 12. Pins 50 proiecting dovvn-y asA covered by the appended.

vand indicating members movable in unison into and out of operative position relativelyA being of a differentI characteristic nature from said ground Land indicating the oWn-.`

ers presence in the automobile.

5. A' theft detector for automobiles and thelike,`comprising a casing-having a portion of one of its Walls provided. with a characteristic ground, While another portion thereof is transparent, and indicating means arranged in said casing and movable into and out of register With the transparent portion of said casing, a portion of, said 'indicating means being oi' the samey characteristic nature as said ground and indicating the ovvners absenceirom the automobile, and the other portion of said indicating means being of a. different characteristic nature from said ground and indicating the owners presence in the automobile.

the like, comprising a casing having a portion of its Vside Walls provided with a, characteristic ground ,while another portionthere- ,oit is transparent, andindicating members movable `into, and out of register with the transparent p'ortion of said casing-,fone oi said inembersbearranged iii said .casing and ingpermanently arranged Within said casto and out of register With the transparent portion of said casing, said presence-indicator being removable from said casing and controlling the movement of said absenceindicator, the latter being of the same color as the colored portion of said casing and the presence-indicator being of a contrasting color.

' 8. A thert detector for automobiles and the like, comprising a casing having a colored portion anda transparent portion, a presence-indicator and an absence-indicator arranged in said into and out et register With the transparent portion of said casing, said presence-indicator being removablefrem said casing and controlling the movement of said absenceindicator, and means for holding said indicators in their operative positions, said absenceindicator being ot'the same color as he colored portion ot said casing and said ingand of the same identity fassa-id ground:

the other member being'- casing and each movable,

presence-indicator being of a contrasting color. f f

9.'A theft ldetector for automobiles and the like', comprising a casing having an opening, a door for closing said opening, said casing having a colored portion anda transparent portion, an absence-indicator of the same color as said colored portion ar# ranged in said casing and movable into and out of register With Asaid transparent portion, a presence-indicator of a color contrast'- ing with said colored portion, .arranged'inf the transparent portion of said casing, saidv absence-indicator being of the same color asv the colored portion of -saidgcasing and said vpresence-indicator being of a contrasting color, means for retaining said indicators'in their operative positions, and means Y for automatically changing the positions of said indicators when released from said retaining means.

l1. Atlieft detector vlror automobiles and the like, comprising a casing having a col'- ored portion and a vtransparent portion, a presence-indicator'and an labsence indicator arranged in said casing and movable in uni- 1 movable: relatively k'toV son into and out of register with thev transparent portion of said casing', one of said indicators being active While lthe other `isY inactive, means for holding said indicators in their operative positions, and means tend-l ing to move said indicators into `engagement with said holding means, said 'absenceindr ca'tor being of the same color as the colored portion of said casing, and said presenceindieator being of a contrasting color.' n 12. A theft detector for automobiles and the like, comprising a( casing having a colored portion yand a transparent portion, 'guide posts arranged in said casing, superposed presence and absence indicators Vslidable on said posts to register with the trans parentl portion of said cas-ing or break regis-l ter therewith, and springs tending to move said indicators to their operative .'positons.

13. A theftV detector ilor automobiles and the like, ccomprising` a vcasing"having-Ia characteristic ground, an indicating vmember said means orguiding said meinberinsaid cas? ing, Vsaid guiding 'means being of irregular' formation and Vsaid Vindicating*member be.

ing shapedto fit the same. I, Y v A. c

' 14. A theft detector for automobil@ and the' like, comprisingia casing having-a characteristic ground, an indicating member movable relativelyto said ground, and Yguide ground, f and Y rods of different-"cross,v vsec'tionaLfa'reas-gari' ranged in said casinfg,"said indicating mem.-V corresponding,

bers being v.provided Withu openings engagingsaid rods.

Josn'rii J, Mioifniinsii'. 

